Armed response security personnel protect corporate facilities, diplomatic or government offices and other sensitive locations, such as nuclear power plants, from the risk of attack by terrorists, bombers or ordinary criminals. They must be ready to engage active shooters or other attackers to put an immediate stop to acts of violence.

Workplaces

Some armed response security professionals work at corporate office buildings or other workplaces to deter or respond to any attempted attacks. They respond to the presence of an active shooter by immediately confronting the individual and using lethal force, if necessary, to prevent or cut short an attempted mass shooting. Companies hire armed response security personnel to protect their facilities because a guard on location can respond much more rapidly than municipal police. Depending on the job, armed security personnel might be assigned to guard an access point, check everyone who wants to enter the facility and search them for weapons or explosives. They might use a system of video surveillance and monitors to keep their eyes on multiple locations, too. They might be assigned to a guard post or might move about as part of an armed patrol. They also might be assigned to armed escort duties for key individuals.

Government and Diplomatic Offices

National embassies, consulates, government agencies and United Nations locations sometimes hire armed response security personnel to prevent terrorist attacks. The visible presence of armed guards is expected to deter some attacks, but the guards must also be ready to engage attackers and defeat them in combat. Armed guards also control the access of all visitors to the property and conduct searches of people, vehicles, packages and buildings to find and remove suspected bombs or other dangerous objects.

Nuclear Facilities

Nuclear plants and other sensitive operations often employ highly trained armed response commandos recruited from former members of the U.S. special forces, Navy SEALS, Delta Force and other elite units of the military. These commandos not only guard nuclear facilities but also stage exercises to try to identify flaws in the security system so they can be fixed. Nuclear facility armed response professionals are employed by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Careers

Some community colleges offer certification courses to students hoping to work in armed security. A student with a 40 hour community college certification as an armed security professional might be able to find work as a guard at a corporate office or for a private security company. However, armed response positions at United Nations offices or nuclear facilities usually require military experience and extensive training. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists $24,380 per year as the 2010 median pay for security guards. However, the more sensitive armed response and counter-terrorist positions do not advertise for recruits or make salary information publicly available.

About the Author

Scott Thompson has been writing professionally since 1990, beginning with the "Pequawket Valley News." He is the author of nine published books on topics such as history, martial arts, poetry and fantasy fiction. His work has also appeared in "Talebones" magazine and the "Strange Pleasures" anthology.